August r



(No Model.)

2 Sheets- Sheet 1. A. R. KOLB.

APPARATUS FOR APFIXING STAMP$.

No. 553,714. Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

ANDREW B.GRAHAM PHOTOLII'PKILWASHINGYD"v l7 C (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2v A. R. KOLB.

APPARATUS FOR APPIXING STAMPS.

No. 553,714. Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

'1 1 I 1 I r z I, 1

ANDREW BIRANAM. PHOTO-LI'\N-WASHINGTON. D13v 'NITED STAT-Es VATENT FFICE.

AUGUST R. KOLB, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FC IR AFFIXING STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,714, dated January 28, 1896. Application filed May 25,1894. Renewed June 27,1895. Serial No. 554,267. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST R. KOLB, a citi-. zen of the United States, residing at the city,

county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Affixing Stamps, (to. of which the following is a specification.

In the business of addressing and mailing large numbers of letters or circulars the affixing of stamps to the envelopes is tediousand disagreeable.

The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty by constructing an apparatus which will hold a quantity of stamps or small gummed labels, and which with each action of the apparatus will moisten the lowest stamp and deliver it from the machine and affix it to an envelope or other article.

In carrying out my invention I employ a box or receptacle for the superposed stamps, a moistening-pad, means for moving the box with stamps vertically, means for moving the moistening-pad across the lowest stamp as the box of stamps is depressed, and means after, the box of stamps is depressed for imparting a blow upon the superposed stamps to compel the firm adherence of the lowest stamp to the envelope and its delivery from the box of stamps.

I prefer to employ a plate and weighted stem or equivalent device, such as a spring, to rest upon the superposed stamps to keep them in place and'flat, or nearly so.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section representing my improvements. Fig.2 is a side elevation. at x x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a sectional plan at 1 y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation and section showing a modification.

A represents the box or receptacle for holdin g stamps or small gummed labels.

B represents a handle, and O is a tubular standard extending between the box or receptacle A and the handle B, and said tubular standard 0 is surrounded by a helical spring D, and E represents the superposed stamps or small gummed labels in the said box or receptacle A, inserted therein through the door Gr hinged at t to the receptacle A.

F represents a plate with weighted stem extending up into the tubular standard and rest- Fig. 3 is a sectional plan ing upon the superposed stamps to keep the stamps out fiat and exert a downward pressure thereon.

- I1 is a water-receptacle, and I a fiat wick or moistener projecting therefrom for conveying moisture to the gunimed sides of the stamps or small labels.

,A yoke-frame composed of slotted sides or uprights cl a and a top with a sleeve a is employed to support and guide the parts. The tubular standard 0 extends through the top sleeve a and the helical spring'D rests at its lower end on the top of said sleeve and at its upper end on the inner portion of the handle.

In Fig. 1 part of a support, such as a table, is illustrated at 9, and on this the envelope 10 or other article to receive the stamp orlabel is laid.

The box or receptacle A is composed of an outer shell, Z), and inner shell, I), and the outer shell, b, is provided with trunnions e e, which extend through the vertical slots 1 of the uprights a a and receive the links f f. The water-receptacle H has a shaft g, whose ends extend through the horizontal slots 2 in the uprights a a, and the other ends of the links ff are connected to said shaft g.

A hammer-head c, of an area coinciding with that of the stamps E, and shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, is connected to the lower end of the tubular standard 0 and fits within the inner shell, I). This hammer-head or follower 0 is provided with holes or channels extending out in opposite directions from and at each side of the center of the head and in line with each other, and within said holes or channels are the latches c and helical springs 0 Shafts '01 extend transversely across the outer shell, b, and holding springs d are around said shafts. The respective ends of the springs bear against the shell I), and the looped centers extend into the slideways 3 of the inner shell, I), and beneath the projecting ends of the latches c. The latches 0 move up and down in the slideways 3 and horizontally, as hereinafter described, their motion horizontally being limited by the pins 4 in the latches and slots in the hammer-head c.

The lower corners of the inner shell, I), are

provided with corner-pieces 5, that come under the respective corners of the stamps or labels to support the same in the box or receptacle. These corners, however, do not appreciably interfere with moistening the gummed surface of the stamp or the delivery of the stamps one at a time with the movement of the machine.

The operation of the mechanism, Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is as follows: The apparatusis placed upon the article 10 that is to receive a stamp or label, and the box or receptacle A is moved down from the upper part of the yoke-frame by pressure on the handle B and rests upon such article 10, the helical spring D being compressed. In this downward movement the links f f have moved along the slots 2 and conveyed the water-receptacle and moistener backwardly, moistening the under and gummed side of the stamp, the water-receptacle turning on its shaft du ring the downward movement of the box or receptacle and coming finally into the position Fig. 2. After the box or receptacle is brought down to the position Fig. 1 the handle B is pressed upon with force, and the springs d yield to the pressure upon them by the latches c, and the hammer-head or follower 0 is liberated and is forced down, striking the plate F with a blow suflicient to compress the stamps and cause the moistened under surface of the lowest stamp to become attached to the envelope or other article. Upon the liberation of the handle B the spring D expanding elevates the parts, and as the outer shell, 1), comes into contact with the under side of the yoke-frame the spring 1.) acts to raise the hammer-head c to its normal position, during which movement the inclined ends of the latches 0 come in contact with the ends of the springs 11 and the latch-springs 0 yield and the latches are pushed inwardly,

and as their curved ends pass by the ends of the springs d the latches springing out again above the springs (1. The parts are then in position for the movements to be repeated.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the tubular standard is in two telescoping parts, of which his the outer portion, passing through the top of the yoke'frame and secured to the receptacle or box A, and h is the inner portion, secured to the handle B and the lower end of which carries the hammer-head i. The lower end of the inner tubular standard, h, is slotted above the hammer-head 21 at opposite sides, and a U-spring t" is received in said slots and is secured at 7 to the outer standard, h. The upper ends of this spring L" bear against the standard It at the ends of said slots, and a spring 8 acts to keep the ends of the spring LI, distended. The operation of this modification is the same as that of the parts Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The handle B is pressed upon and the box or receptacle moved down to the article to which the stamp is to be affixed, and this is accomplished without the parts of the telescoping tube yielding or moving past one another; but when the box reaches the limit of its movement additional pressure on the handle causes the upper ends of the spring t" to yield and the standard h and hammer-head 2' to descend and strike a blow on the weight F of the stem and plate F, and so press the stamp or small gummed label upon the place where it adheres. When the pressure is removed the parts return to their normal position, as in Fig. 5, for the movements to be repeated.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus for affixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with a box or receptacle for holding the superposed stamps, a tubular standard connected with said box or receptacle, a handle for effecting a downward movement, and a spring for raising said box, of a plate and weighted stem resting upon the superposed stamps, a hammer-head, springs and latches for maintaining the parts in their proper relations during the descent of the box or receptacle and which yield to permit the hammer-head to deliver a blow on the superposed stamps, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus for afiixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with a box or receptacle for holding the superposed stamps, a handle for efiecting a downward movement and a spring for raising said box, of a tubular standard connected to the handle, a hammerhead connected to the tubular standard, a plate and weighted stem resting upon the superposed stamps, springs and latches for maintaining the parts in a fixed relation during the descent of the box or receptacle and which yield upon the application of extra pressure to the handle to permit the hammerhead to deliver a blow on the superposed stamps, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an apparatus for afiixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with the box or receptacle for holding the stamps, of the tubular standard 0 extending through the top of said box, a hammer-head 0 connected to the lower end of said standard and having the latches c and latch-springs 0 the shafts d and the holding-springs cl, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4:. In an apparatus for aflixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with the handle and tubular standard, of the box or receptacle composed of the outer shell I), the inner shell I) having slideways 3, the door G for inserting the superposed stamps, the cor ner-plates 5 for supporting the stamps, the shafts d, springs d, the hammer-head c and the spring-latches therein and moving in the slideways 3, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus foraiiixing stamps or similar articles, the combination with the tubular standard, the spring and the handle,

IIO

of the box or receptacle, side trunnions e e to movement of the box or receptacle, substansaid box, the yoke-frame having vertical slots tially as set forth. 1o 1 for said trunnions, and horizontal slots 2, Signed by me this 27th day of April, A. D. the Water-receptacle H and moistener I, the 1894.

shaft 9 extending through the slots 2 and the AUGUST R. KOLB. links f f connecting the shaft 9 and trunnions Witnesses e 6, whereby the moistening device is oper- GEO. T. PINOKNEY,

ated simultaneously with the downward HAROLD SERRELL. 

